Raising and lowering device.



' J. R. ROBINSON.

RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE. 211101111011 FILED MAR. 31, 1909. RENEWED SEPT. 20, 1910.

. 981,314,, Patented Ja11.10,1911.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE- JAMES R. Ronrnsbn, or PASADENA, cnmronnm.

RAISING AND LOWERING DEVICE.

' Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 10, 1911.

Application filed March 31, 1909, Serial No. 487,022. Renewed September 20, 1910. Serial No. 582,932.

T0111 whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, James R. ROBINSON,

a citizen of the United States, residing in,

upward when submerged and also aid in sinking it to the bottom when on the surface.

It consists of a plurality of propellers so arranged as to advantageously and eliiciently raise or lower the vessel and also propel the, same through the water when it is submerged at any level.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, "I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present prefeired by me, since the same has been found in p 'actiee togive satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to be understood that the various inst-rumentalities of whiohmy invention consists can be variously arranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to the precise arrangement and organization of these instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a plan of a vessel em bodying my invention. Fig. 2 represents a longiti'ulinal section of the same. represents an end elevation of the vessel.

Similar numerals of reference indicate coi'rcs 'iontling parts in the figures.

Referring to the drawings l designates the bottom frame of a vessel for submarine tmrposes, 2 the top frame thereof and 3 the side members joining the top and bottom frames, forming in the present instance, a skeleton frame work adapted to receive the novel mechanism of my invention. Preferably, this frame work is covered with a scij'een 4- which is in the preferred form of steel inordcr to resist contact with obstacles hidden beneath the surface of the Water and thus protect the mechanism Within while at the same time, free access of Water to the interior thereof is readily permitted.

5 and 6 designate a somewhat similar screen formin the top and bottom respeclively, of the frame work and herein disclosed is of somcwl'iat heavier construction Fig. 3

" the driving mechanism.

the inner compartment.

which is especially desirable in order to al low the impacts with the irregularities which may exist on the bed of the ocean, river or the like, as the case may be. It will be noted as herein disclosed, that this frame work is substantially elliptical in shape, in order to more readily position the vessel when submerged, and that the ends and sides are somewhat inclined toward the'bottom to lessen the resistance as the vessel is raised.

7 designates the sides of a Water tight coi'npartment inclosed by the frame work. 1 and 2 and is provided with a slotted bottom 8 whichis preferably covered with a layer of concrete 9 or lilte material forming a'foundation for the mechanism, to be hereinafter described, which is located Within the aforesaid compartment.

It will be noted as herein shown, that the sides 7 are provided with a cut-away portion 10, to form an anchor for the concrete or like material which when set, forms a substantially integralstructure with the sides 7.

11 designates the top of the compartment formed by the sides 7 and is secured by any well known means to the sides 7 Which, in the present instance, are provided with inwardly extending flanges 12 to form a seat for the top 11 and between which and the top a suitable packing 13 is located to prevent any leakage of water into the compartment and thereby effectually make the same I water tight.

14. designates a propeller located at each end of the vessel and in the compartincnts formed by the screened frame worlt eaclnheing suitably mounted on a shaft 17 which in the present instance, is vertically disposed and ournalcd respectively in a collar 16 secured tothc bottomli and a box 15 sultablysecured to the sides 7' of the compartn'ient.

It will be noted that the boxes as here shown are closed on all sides to prevent the entrance of any water which would effect This mechanism consists of beveled gears 18 mounted respectivel y on the shafts 17 and meshing with which are similar gears 19 fixedly Inoui-ited on driven. shafts 20, extending inwardly of 21. designates a secondpropeller located at each end of the vessel and also in the compartment formed by the frame Work 1 and 2 wh ch n the present instance are each lid it ll compartment and driven from any suitable source and from which driving shafts 24 receive power and are located adjacent the shafts and 22. Each shaft 24 has secured thereon a sliding gear 25 adapted to be actuated by suitable lever mechanism 26 operated by movement of a hand lever 27 to slide the gear 25 in either direction as de sired.

28 designates a plurality'of gears mounted on the lower shaft 20 and'29 designates thing is ready for its submers'iom'the pro.

a similar gear mounted on each shaft 22 by means of which gearing any of the propellers may be thrown into operation byshifting the levers 27 to throw the gear 25 into mesh with the gears on the respective shafts- 20 and 22.

In operation the device isjlowered into the water in the vicinity of a sunken vessel or at the point at winch it-is desired to carry on submarine operations and when everypcller or propellers 14 are rotated by throwmg in the operating lever 27 to start the make proper dev1ce, either loading material on the top of propellers rotating, whereupon the vessel is owered beneath the surface and brought into close proximity to the point desired. It will be understood that an operator is located within the compartment containing the motor and that light and air are supplied to him in a manner common to alltypes of such apparatus. It will, of course, also be understood that a. diver is in the vicinity to connections to the submarine the compartmentor attaching it tothe device and'as soon as this is accomplished, the lovers 27 are thrown in the opposite direction to bring the gearing controlling the propellers 14 into operation, whereupon through the reverse rotation the device is gradually forced upward in the water to the surface and whatever is brought upward therewith may be removed. The propellers 21 can also be operated, during the lowering or raising movement so that the device may be driven in any direction as required.

.l t will be noted that the propellers 14 are somewhat larger than the propellers 21 so that the raising operation may be carried out as rapidly as possible. If it is desired to give thev dGXlCQ an inclined position while lowering into the water, the samemay be accomplished by throwing the proper levers to bring both a propeller 14 and a propeller 21 into operation at the same time, whereby the combined-forces acting against'the of water produces a resultant which inclines the'vessel at the proper angle and this angle 'may be varied according to the different oc- .casions by a regulation of the speed of the two propellers. Of course, it will be apparent that if one propeller is rotated at a higher speed than the other, the action will have a tendency to overcome the driving'action of the other propeller and thereby give to the vessel the necessary angle. a

It will now be apparent that I have devised a novel and useful construction which embodies the features of advantage enumerated as desirable in the statement of the inventionand the above description and while I have in the present instance shown and described. the preferred embodiment thereof which has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, it is to be understood that the same is susceptible of modification in various particulars without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention or sacrificing any of its advantages.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a submarine vessel, a Water tight.

compartn1ent,a plurality of propellers on vertical and horizontal shafts mounted exterior of said compartment at either end thereof, a screen inclosing said propellers, Y

driving means mounted in said compartment andconnections from said driving means to each of said propellers. 2. In a submarine vessel, a Water tight compartment, a plurality of propellers on vertical and horizontal shafts mounted exterior of said compartment at either end thereof, ascrecn' inclosing said propellers, driving means mounted. in said compartment, connections from said driving means to each of said propellers and means to corn trol the operation of each of said propellers. 3. In a. submarine vessel, av Water tight compartment,driving mechanism mounted in said compartiuent, a plurality of propellers exterior of said compartment and mounted on a substantially horizontal shaft extending into said compartment, a. plurality of pr pellersmounted exterior of said compartment on a substantially vertical extending shaft, and connections between said driving mqchanism and each of said propellers to operate the same and independei'it screens at the tops and bottoms of the spaces occupied by said propellers.

4,. lo a submarine v'esscl't'a water tight compartment, driving mechanism mounted in said compartment, :1 plurality of propellers exterior of said compartment and mounted on opposite ends of a substantially horizontal shaftextending into said-compartment, a. plurality ofpropellers mounted horizontal sha ,means for drivin said propellers,

on substantially vertical extending shafts one at each end of the yessel, connections be tween said driving mechanism and each of I said propellers to operate the same, a screen construction 1nclos1ng all of said propellers,

and means to disconnect each of said propellers from said driving mechanism.

6. In a submarine vessel, a Water-tight compartment, a plurality of propellers mounted exterior of said compartment, compart ments outside said Water-tight compartment receiving said propellers, and screens inelosingthe sides and tops and bottoms of said outside compartments, the screens at'the tops and bottoms being of heavier material. JAMES R. ROBINSON. "Witnesses Jae. H. GAUT L. "W. Ewen. 

